Supreme Court to Hold Session at USF

The Supreme Court of California will hold a special oral argument session on Tuesday, Feb. 5 in the McLaren Conference Center at the University of San Francisco.

The special session, the latest in a series of student outreach programs to improve public understanding of the state court system, is a part of the USF School of Law’s Centennial Celebration.

The morning session will begin at 10:15 a.m. and will include introductory remarks, student questions and answers by the justices, followed by oral argument in City of Riverside v. Inland Empire Patient’s Health and Wellness Center. The afternoon session will begin at 1 p.m. and will include oral argument in People v. Clancey and People v. Williams. More information on the cases is available here.

“The Supreme Court justices appreciate the opportunity to combine one of our special oral argument sessions with the USF School of Law Centennial Celebration,” said Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye. “The special session will provide a group of law school and local high school students with a unique opportunity to question Supreme Court justices and to experience their constitutional democracy in action, and hopefully will inspire some to a career in public service.”

Hundreds of USF law students and undergraduates will be joined by local high school students from the Balboa High School Law Academy and Thurgood Marshall High School. Members of the public, the press, and the State Bar are also expected to attend the session. In addition, the event will be broadcast live on the California Channel, enabling other students and members of the public throughout the state to witness their Supreme Court’s proceedings in action.

We are deeply honored and grateful to host the California Supreme Court during this, our centennial, year,” USF School of Law Dean Jeffrey S. Brand said. “It is an exceptional learning opportunity for our students and underscores the law schools deep roots in the San Francisco legal community.”

Before oral arguments begin, selected law school and high school students will have a chance to ask questions of the justices from the podium. In addition to the courtroom proceedings, as part of the visit, the Supreme Court will attend a post-argument reception with law school faculty and students.

More information on the special session, including guidelines for attending the arguments, are available here.